Guideline Recommended Medical Therapy for Cardiovascular Diseases in the Obese: Insights From the Veterans Affairs Clinical Assessment, Reporting, and Tracking (CART) Program

Medical Therapy Utilization and Long-Term Outcomes Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Five-Year Results From the Veterans Affairs Clinical Assessment, Reporting, and Tracking System Program

BACKGROUND

Optimal medical therapy is endorsed by national guidelines in the management of ischemic heart disease; however, few studies have examined its long-term utilization following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and association with clinical outcomes. We sought to assess longitudinal trends in medical therapy use after PCI and its prognostic significance.

METHODS AND RESULTS

From the Veteran Affairs Clinical Assessment, Reporting, and Tracking System Program, we retrospectively identified 57 900 Veteran's Affairs patients undergoing PCI from January 2005 to May 2014. Using prescription fill dates, the utilization of 4 classes of medical therapy including statins, β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, P2Y12 inhibitors, and their composites were assessed at discharge, 6 months, 1, 3, and 5 years post-PCI. Multivariable Cox regression models were developed to assess the association between medical therapy status and major adverse cardiovascular events, defined as all-cause mortality, rehospitalization for myocardial infarction, rehospitalization for stroke, or repeat revascularization. At discharge following PCI, 58.3% of patients received all 4 classes of medical therapy. Utilization of statins, β-blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers decreased from 89%, 84.9%, and 72.2% on discharge, respectively, to 72.7%, 67.9%, and 57.9% at 5 years. Prescription refills of P2Y12 inhibitors declined from 96.5% on discharge to 28.3% at 5 years, driven by a large decline in P2Y12 inhibitor use after 1 year. Use of each class of medical therapy, and its composite use, was associated with a significant reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events at 5 years, with the largest effect size seen by the use of statins (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.75-0.79; P<0.0001) and P2Y12 inhibitors (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.79-0.85; P<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Consistent declines in medical therapy use following PCI were observed over time, which is associated with worse outcomes. Further efforts are needed to promote long-term adherence to secondary prevention therapies after revascularization.

Mental illness and obesity among Veterans undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: Insights from the VA CART program

Mental illness and obesity are highly prevalent in patients with coronary disease and are frequently comorbid. While mental illness is an established risk factor for major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs), prior studies suggest improved outcomes in people with obesity. It is unknown if obesity and mental illness interact to affect cardiac outcomes or if they independently influence MACCE. We identified 55 091 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between 2009 and 2014, using the Veterans Affairs (VA) Clinical Assessment Reporting and Tracking (CART) program. Cox methods were used to assess the risk of MACCE by weight status and psychiatric diagnosis, and assessed for interaction. Compared to normal weight status, higher weight was associated with reduced MACCE events after PCI (mean follow-up of 2 years) for both stable angina and acute coronary syndromes (ACSs; reduction of >13% in stable angina, >17% in ACS; P < 0.01 for both after adjustment). Having a non-substance abuse mental illness diagnosis increased risk of MACCE compared to patients without mental illness in stable angina over 17%; P < 0.05, but not in ACS. When analysed for interaction, obesity and mental illness did not significantly impact MACCE over their independent influences. These results suggest that mental illness along with weight status have significant impact on MACCE, post-PCI. Clinicians should be aware of patients' mental health status as a significant cardiovascular risk factor after PCI, independent of weight status.

Association of Body Mass Index With Risk Factor Optimization and Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy in US Veterans With Cardiovascular Disease

BACKGROUND

Obesity is a growing epidemic that has been linked to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Guideline-directed medications for secondary prevention and risk factor control are recommended for patients with all forms of CVD. The association of body mass index (BMI) with use of medications for secondary prevention and risk factor control in patients with CVD are poorly understood.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We identified 1 122 567 patients with CVD receiving care in 130 Veterans Affairs facilities from October 1, 2013, to September 30, 2014. Five groups were stratified by BMI-underweight (BMI, <18.5 kg/m²), normal (BMI, 18.5-24.9 kg/m²), overweight (BMI, 25-29.9 kg/m²), obese (BMI, 30-39.9 kg/m²), and extremely obese (BMI, ≥40 kg/m²). A composite of 4 measures-blood pressure <140/90 mm Hg, hemoglobin A1c ≤9% in diabetic patients, statin use, and antiplatelet use-termed optimal medial therapy (OMT) was compared among groups. Multivariable logistic regression was performed with normal BMI as the referent category. Underweight patients comprised 12 623 (1.1%), normal BMI 230 471 (20.5%), overweight 413 590 (36.8%), obese 404 105 (36%), and extremely obese 61 778 (5.5%) of the cohort. Only 43.7% of the entire cohort received OMT, and this was the highest in the overweight group. Adjusted odds ratios for receiving OMT were 0.81 (95% CI, 0.77-0.85), 1.11 (95% CI, 1.10-1.13), 1.08 (95% CI, 1.06-1.09), and 0.87 (95% CI, 0.85-0.89), for patients who were underweight, overweight, obese, and extremely obese, respectively, compared with normal BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

OMT was low in the entire cohort. There is an inverse U-shaped relationship between OMT and BMI with patients who are underweight and extremely obese less likely to receive OMT compared with patients with normal BMI.

The Obesity Paradox: A Misleading Term That Should Be Abandoned

The term "obesity paradox" is a figure of speech, not a scientific term. The term has no precise definition and has been used to describe numerous observations that have little in common other than the finding of an association of obesity with a favorable outcome. The terminology has led to misunderstandings among researchers and the public alike. It's time for authors and editors to abandon the use of this term. Simply labeling counterintuitive findings as the "obesity paradox" adds no value. Unexpected findings should not be viewed negatively; such findings can lead to new knowledge, better treatments, and scientific advances.